How much do you spend on Groceries?

Sock Monster

Hi,
New to this section of the forum so hopefully this has been posted in the correct area.

Just wondering how much other people spend on groceries (food) & household stuff (i.e. wash powder etc) each week?

Myself & boyfriend, both early thirties spend roughly 120 Euro a week, is this average or a bit high?

We shop in Tescos, Supervalu and occasionally Marks & Spencer.
I don’t like the fruit and Veg in Lidl as with just two of us it tends to go off before we get a chance to eat it.

Ok

• Him - Carnivore (regular meat and free range chicken)
• Me - Eat fish and free range chicken only
• Eggs - Free range
• Organic - only by chance i.e. if something like organic or fairtrade bananas/coffee for example catch my eye I’ll put it in the trolley
• Brand Loyality - like my Heinz, Kellogs, Brennans Bread etc., another reason why I don't shop in Lidl
• Junk - trying to cutdown on the chocolate / crisp offers – I’m no longer going down that aisle as when it comes to high fat / high sugar and a half price sticker – I’m powerless
• Pets - 1 cat, fed on regular catfood, own brand litter and own brand cat crunchies (she prefers them)
• Alcohol – Rarely
• Smokers – No
• Lunches – we both bring our own lunches to work
• Convenience Foods – Just pizza, I like cooking so don’t mind making from scratch

　
Thanks – just curious

furiousox

We (2 adults + 2 kids aged 9 & 6) spend around 100/120 euro per week on groceries in Dunnes.
I think if you're both earning and you don't have kids you just buy whatever takes your fancy (we did!), maybe more price conscious when 'weekly family budget' becomes an issue, would love to shop in Marks but not a runner for us

Sock Monster

Thanks - Only shop once a month is M & S and it's on a "dine in" week offer.

Generally it's Tescos - with small stuff (extra milk/bread) picked up from local Supervalu.

furiousox

Yeah sorry, wasn't a dig.
What l meant was, it would be nice to go into marks every week and just throw whatever looks nice into the trolley.
Sadly, weekly shopping bill would increase from 120 to 420!

mikemac

M&S have a fantastic dine for 2 offer every second Thursday

Main course for two, side dish, dessert and a bottle of wine (or bottled water) for €12.50

Other then that I couldn't afford to go there too often

marinbike

Sock Monster wrote: »

Hi,
New to this section of the forum so hopefully this has been posted in the correct area.

Just wondering how much other people spend on groceries (food) & household stuff (i.e. wash powder etc) each week?

Myself & boyfriend, both early thirties spend roughly 120 Euro a week, is this average or a bit high?

We shop in Tescos, Supervalu and occasionally Marks & Spencer.
I don’t like the fruit and Veg in Lidl as with just two of us it tends to go off before we get a chance to eat it.

Ok

• Him - Carnivore (regular meat and free range chicken)
• Me - Eat fish and free range chicken only
• Eggs - Free range
• Organic - only by chance i.e. if something like organic or fairtrade bananas/coffee for example catch my eye I’ll put it in the trolley
• Brand Loyality - like my Heinz, Kellogs, Brennans Bread etc., another reason why I don't shop in Lidl
• Junk - trying to cutdown on the chocolate / crisp offers – I’m no longer going down that aisle as when it comes to high fat / high sugar and a half price sticker – I’m powerless
• Pets - 1 cat, fed on regular catfood, own brand litter and own brand cat crunchies (she prefers them)
• Alcohol – Rarely
• Smokers – No
• Lunches – we both bring our own lunches to work
• Convenience Foods – Just pizza, I like cooking so don’t mind making from scratch

　
Thanks – just curious

Seems like a little more than average. me and my girlfriend would spend €95 a week.

Probably because you appear to be shopping in the most expensive grocers (i.e. Marks & Spencer & Supervalu). Tesco can be seen as the same because they are now increasing their prices.

Why not Lidl or Aldi?

Better still, a shopping trip up in the north saves you a lot because they rip off customers down here. I will be doing all of my christmas shopping in Asda Enniskillen and Lidl/Aldi up north also.

mikemac

marinbike wrote: »

Better still, a shopping trip up in the north saves you a lot because they rip off customers down here. I will be doing all of my christmas shopping in Asda Enniskillen and Lidl/Aldi up north also.

True but if you live in Munster then what you spend on fuel can be more then the savings. Unless you buy a collasal amount of stuff and even then, it's hours and hours of driving.
But if you're close to the border you'd be mad not to

pcardin

Sock Monster wrote: »

Hi,
New to this section of the forum so hopefully this has been posted in the correct area.

Just wondering how much other people spend on groceries (food) & household stuff (i.e. wash powder etc) each week?

Myself & boyfriend, both early thirties spend roughly 120 Euro a week, is this average or a bit high?

We shop in Tescos, Supervalu and occasionally Marks & Spencer.
I don’t like the fruit and Veg in Lidl as with just two of us it tends to go off before we get a chance to eat it.

Ok

• Him - Carnivore (regular meat and free range chicken)
• Me - Eat fish and free range chicken only
• Eggs - Free range
• Organic - only by chance i.e. if something like organic or fairtrade bananas/coffee for example catch my eye I’ll put it in the trolley
• Brand Loyality - like my Heinz, Kellogs, Brennans Bread etc., another reason why I don't shop in Lidl
• Junk - trying to cutdown on the chocolate / crisp offers – I’m no longer going down that aisle as when it comes to high fat / high sugar and a half price sticker – I’m powerless
• Pets - 1 cat, fed on regular catfood, own brand litter and own brand cat crunchies (she prefers them)
• Alcohol – Rarely
• Smokers – No
• Lunches – we both bring our own lunches to work
• Convenience Foods – Just pizza, I like cooking so don't mind making from scratch

　
Thanks – just curious

M&S is expensive shop but very good. SuperValu however is a typical rip off selling sh1t for SUUUPER BIG MONEY to the people with a problems or no understanding in simple mathematics. Tesco is just a horrible place to go. Always dirty and smelly. Your comments about the Lidl are hilarious! )) At least I understand how such a RIP OFF shops like SuperValue, Centra or SuperQuinn can still exist

I do the bulk of my shopping once a month to buy bags of frozen veg, dinner-items, pasta, and fruit bread milk cereal yogurts tons of cans of spaghetti, all the usual stuff. Maybe some extras. Last time I got some yummy scampi, the most expensive item in my list
It costs about 70-90 euro for the "big shop", fills my press and fridge and freezer.

During the month I will "top up" a few times with bread and milk etc but on average I can't imagine I spend more than 150 a month max on that kind of stuff. I don't necessarily go for the cheapest stuff either, just what looks nice balanced with cost.

I can't imagine how you're spending 120 a week, that sounds completely off the wall. :eek:

(oh I do all my shopping in tescos)

thefeatheredcat

OP,

tbh I think you're doing fairly ok there; what you're spending sounds quite reasonable and how you shop/what you buy relatively sorted and tradeoffs made where possible.

I find it's the sweet and sugary stuff are the most expensive of all so it's great that you're staying away from it.

Just a suggestion - if you're not currently buying your meat from a butchers, may be worth a look to see what offers they have or deals they offer; same with fishmongers.

thefeatheredcat

thefeatheredcat wrote: »

OP,

tbh I think you're doing fairly ok there; what you're spending sounds quite reasonable and how you shop/what you buy relatively sorted and tradeoffs made where possible.

500 euro a month sounds reasonable? Am I living in some parallel universe? You must be joking?

thefeatheredcat

bluewolf wrote: »

500 euro a month sounds reasonable? Am I living in some parallel universe? You must be joking?

For what they're buying its good and for where they're shopping. Branded products are the most expensive along with organic food ie pay more for perceived higher quality items.

If you're following the price cut rotation correctly you can save as well as shopping around, you'll find plenty of differences between the different supermarkets.

It's all about what you're buying as well.

Sock Monster

furiousox wrote: »

Yeah sorry, wasn't a dig

I never for one moment thought the above. (just trying to clarify my first posting) - your very kind for even mentioning it.

Even us on 2 incomes and no kids couldn’t afford to shop every week in M & S but then again if I won the lotto or got someone else to pay my mortgage . . . . . . .

Sock Monster

thefeatheredcat wrote: »

OP,

I find it's the sweet and sugary stuff are the most expensive of all so it's great that you're staying away from it.

Just a suggestion - if you're not currently buying your meat from a butchers, may be worth a look to see what offers they have or deals they offer; same with fishmongers.

Totally agree if we take this aisle out of the equation we’ll save 20 Euro straight off, seriously we would spend a fair amount on junk i.e. Fizzy drinks, crisp and chocolates – all empty calories and bad for your health
Or
as Dr Gillian or just plain old Gillian as she is know as nowadays would say "you have a fat tooth"

Also going to source out a local fishmongers, a lady in work tells me of the great deals she gets from hers in Howth.

Sock Monster

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions & comments, don’t feel too bad now.

Going to eliminate the high fat / high sugar aisle and save 20 Euro straight off so aiming for a weekly shop of 100 Euro from here on in.

Enjoy your weekend !

kkmick

I think 120 is very resonable really, our shopping is around 150 per week in dunnes, lidl and butchers for 2 adults and a toddler

furiousox

bluewolf wrote: »

I do the bulk of my shopping once a month to buy bags of frozen veg, dinner-items, pasta, and fruit bread milk cereal yogurts tons of cans of spaghetti, all the usual stuff. Maybe some extras. Last time I got some yummy scampi, the most expensive item in my list
It costs about 70-90 euro for the "big shop", fills my press and fridge and freezer.

During the month I will "top up" a few times with bread and milk etc but on average I can't imagine I spend more than 150 a month max on that kind of stuff. I don't necessarily go for the cheapest stuff either, just what looks nice balanced with cost.

I can't imagine how you're spending 120 a week, that sounds completely off the wall. :eek:

(oh I do all my shopping in tescos)

But are you shopping for one or for two?

Sock Monster

KK Mick, Sounds ok, Nappies ain't cheap

greeno

About same as me and the oh we spend aroung 80 a week in tesco's with the meat from the butchers beside it. We don't cook weekends though so eating out/takeaway makes it the same if not more than yours.

furiousox

furiousox wrote: »

But are you shopping for one or for two?

I am shopping for one, but even a max of 150 x 2 is far less than 500
OH spends less than I do as well I believe.

anyway i've said my piece

ebmma

just me and my husband. Spend roughly 200-250 euro per month on grocery shopping excluding eating out and non-edible stuff. So that's basically all the cooking ingredients like meet, veg, starchy stuff etc.
I know that coz we keep monthly accounts

Don't have much brand loyalty - if it tastes good, made from the right ingredients and does it's job I don't give a flying f**k what company made it.

However there are some things that I'm particularly attached to like Lidl organic ketchup in glass bottles. I actually like it enough that I will not buy other types unless I'm stuck.

have a baby on the way so that might change, I guess.

Fukuyama

saving money on every day items and doing everyday things is the hardest part. We can all save few bob here and there when buying big things. I run a site dedicated to saving you cash in weird ways that you'd never even think of.

It's www.artofstinginess.com

Let me know what you think :rolleyes:

lindtee

I spend approx €75 on a big shop once a week, that would be Aldi, Dunnes, and Lidl. All close to each other so I can do it in one trip. That would include meat for the week, veggies, tins, cat food, frozen food stuff, lunch stuff for the kids and a couple of treats. Would spend another €25 or so on milk, bread and other things that I might need during the week. I am not a brand snob, so would go for what ever is on special offer or own brand. I am also not embarassed to admit that I have a look in the reduced to clear section aswell and we haven't gotten ill (or died) from consuming food from there. We are not loo roll snobs either and the 55c 4 roll cheapy pack does the job fine:pac:

CrazyChick18

In my household there's two adults and 3 children so could easily spend 150-180 a week by going to Dunnes stores but recently have being shopping in tescos and find its a great difference.

shopping always cheaper when you dont have to by washing powder, dishwasher tabs, nappies!!

thereitisgone

Ok,maybe its not rip off in Ireland after all, everytime i am home i notice the great prices in Tesco´s and what ye are saying here confirms my thinking. Here in Finland i shop in Lidl and a shop called Prisma which would be comparable to a Dunnes or Tesco and for a family of two adults and two kids aged 5 and 3, we would have no change from 200€ a week.
This is not by any means extravagent living it really does cost a lot more here for the basics, and before Lidl came here 4 or five years ago it was much worse before the competition from Lidl forced the home grown cartel to lower their prices...so remember its not always greener.

we'llallhavetea_old

i spend on average €70 for me and my 5yr old. i shop in dunnes, but i used to shop in tesco, it was about €20 more. on a week that i've run out of everything the shopping would pop up to €90.

jam_mac_jam

about 150, a week, but some weeks we have a cheap week where we will only spend about 50 on fresh things towards the end of the month. There are three of us and I bring my lunch in every day so although it seems expensive we dont eat out a lot. I blame the stupid free range chicken, i would say that costs along over 20 a week, I also eat a lot of fish which is not cheap so I dont think 120 between two is too bad.

rubadub

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

i spend on average €70 for me and my 5yr old. i shop in dunnes, but i used to shop in tesco, it was about €20 more.

Thats strange, depends on the products I suppose. I shop in lidl/dunnes/tesco and get different things in each.

My biggest tip goes against advice of old - I do NOT bring a shopping list, I generally buy what is on offer. In tesco the best offers are NOT advertised, and the worst "so called offers" have dirty big signs up, and you see people blindly filling their trolleys presuming "it must be cheap, sure the sign is huge".

I might have a few things in mind, but nothing specific, i.e. I have very little brand loyalty to any goods. Since the tesco "change for good" came in I have seen bizarrely cheap products, but like I say they are not advertised as such.

Cabaal

I shop in a local butchers for meat, Superquinn and Lidl, offers vary so its best to shop around and some of Superquinn#s own brand stuff is fantastic value even compared to Lidl.

I have no brand loyalty except for bread

jmbkay

Has anyone tried the superscan in Superquinn. Its very good if youre watching what you spend, as the scanner tots the items up as you scan. Its also good the way you pack your stuff as you go along, so when you reach the superscan checkout, you just hand back the scanner, pay and go.

fiona12

Dean0088 wrote: »

It's www.artofstinginess.com

Good website! Would have been nice if it was more Irish based though

Sock Monster

fiona12 wrote: »

Would have been nice if it was more Irish based though

I agree, the "Make Your Own Gatorade and Save" was completely lost on me as I have some how survived many years without it !

rolion

Hi,i don't see how you manage it ! !
I spend around 150pw in Dunnes,50pw in Lidl/Aldi (for fruits and vegs) and 40 in local butcher.
We are 2a and 3c.
I'm buying all veg and fruits organics,also kids food all organic.

Once per month going up in Newry for a fill.

woggie

Blooming 'eck I'm beginning to think hubby and I must be just throwing our money away We spend, on average €200 - €250 a week in Dunnes then regular top ups of fresh milk/bread and meat from butchers.
We're just 2 adults and one teenager (who hardly eats!) We are hoping to reduce this as have baby on the way so will only have one income for a year.

Are you guys including toiletries etc? I always look down my shopping list and notice anything over the fiver mark - it's usually razor blades or shampoo etc, also the likes of dish washing tables can be very expensive. Are ye all including these in your €120 a week bill?

We don't buy organic but do buy free-range (eggs & chicken), also we buy a lot of fruit. Don't buy much (if any) junk food or snacks (i.e. maybe one pizza a month, never buy biscuits or crisps or minerals).

RiverWilde

I and my wife provide for ourselves and four children. We go to NI once a month and hit ASDA and Iceland and the other shops .... we then top up in Lidl/Aldi and the odd run to Tesco in the South.

The amount of money we save is insane and that's including petrol etc etc. We just treat is as a day out. We'll head north on a saturday, nice and early, find breakfast somewhere and then we'll just wander and depending on how the day is going ... we'll usually hit ASDA and Iceland as the last two shops on our list and head home. It's a long fun day once a month but well worth it.

Riv

J_Wholesale

About 40 Euro a week, with an extra 20 once a month for washing and toilet stuff. If you cook your own food (no pre-prepared meals), and avoid junk food (crisps, soft drinks, and almost all breakfast cereals), then it costs very little.

Healthy food is cheap, diabetes inducing food is expensive. It's really that simple. Anyone spending over 200 Euro for a family is buying crap that will probably have serious impacts on the health of everyone in that family.

Rules of thumb for buying real food:

• If it doesn't rot, it's not real food.
• If you don't have to prepare it yourself, it's not real food.
• If it's advertised on television, it's not real food.
• If you read the ingredients and you don't know what something is, it's not real food.
• If your 6 year old kids can't pronounce something in the ingredients, it's not real food.
• If there are more than 4 separate ingredients, it's probably not real food.

And as for toiletries. If you're buying brand name goods, you're pissing your money up against a wall. Who do you think manufactures Tesco Shaving Gel (less than half the price of Gillette)? It sure as hell isn't Tesco.

The same applies to food. Odlams porridge is almost twice as expensive as Dunnes porridge. Ingredients of both: Oats, and nothing else. Wake up people!

woggie

Seriously bad generalization!!!

The bulk of our shopping is in fresh veg, fruit and meat. We make practically all of our meals from frist principles. My meat can work out quite dear as I buy very lean cuts in red meat or free-range only in poultry (there can be a difference of €5 between a factory and free-range chicken). We don't do ready-meals. We eat meat and fresh veg for dinner every day. We make our own lunches with fresh bread, salad and meat or soup and rolls.

I agree our bills are high but there is NO WAY we are eating unhealthily.

I agree with the brand name when it comes to toiletries and perhaps I should start to take a better look at the non-branded stuff but I have found in the past that the washing powder in lidl brought my family out in rashes and the bleach didn't clean right. Also my husband has eczema so I don't trust the likes of tesco shampoo/body washes :mad:

parsi

J_Wholesale wrote: »

About 40 Euro a week, with an extra 20 once a month for washing and toilet stuff. If you cook your own food (no pre-prepared meals), and avoid junk food (crisps, soft drinks, and almost all breakfast cereals), then it costs very little.

Healthy food is cheap, diabetes inducing food is expensive. It's really that simple. Anyone spending over 200 Euro for a family is buying crap that will probably have serious impacts on the health of everyone in that family.

Rules of thumb for buying real food:

• If it doesn't rot, it's not real food.
• If you don't have to prepare it yourself, it's not real food.
• If it's advertised on television, it's not real food.
• If you read the ingredients and you don't know what something is, it's not real food.
• If your 6 year old kids can't pronounce something in the ingredients, it's not real food.
• If there are more than 4 separate ingredients, it's probably not real food.

And as for toiletries. If you're buying brand name goods, you're pissing your money up against a wall. Who do you think manufactures Tesco Shaving Gel (less than half the price of Gillette)? It sure as hell isn't Tesco.

The same applies to food. Odlams porridge is almost twice as expensive as Dunnes porridge. Ingredients of both: Oats, and nothing else. Wake up people!

So apples (no prep), milk (ads on tv), Di-Hyrdrogen Oxide (whats that & chhildren can't pronounce), blackberry & apple jam (4+ ingedients) etc aren't real foods ?

grenache

I picked up 20 items in Tesco in Wilton yesterday. The usual giffen goods such as bread and milk, as well as other stuff like carrots, peas, the odd pizza, chips, pasta, etc. The total came to €28.53. As much as i hate to say it, Tesco are dirt cheap.

collegemum

We, 2adults and 1 child spend about €60-70 per week. Buy poultry/meat in the butchers and shop between lidl, Aldi and dunnes.

Just today my butchers was doing 2 whole chickens for €5 - that'll do 4 dinners (roast chicken 2 days and 2 chicken currysfrom the leftovers;))

Dunnes were doing 7.5kg bag of potatoes for €2.99 ( baked potatoes / mashed potatoes/ roasters ...yum)

Butchers doing 2lb steak mince €4.99 will do at least 4 dinners - lasagne, 2days spag bol, meatballs & gravy.

5 chicken fillets €4.99 will do 2 dinners (fajitas, chicken pasta bake) and good few lunches.

Can't understand how people spend so much per week :eek:

thecons

I have recently become a Tesco addict as we now have a huge Tesco extra open 24/7. If I can manage to by-pass the clothes I think my shopping bill has reduced over the last couple of years. I'd spend about €100 in Tesco and maybe every second week go to Aldi's for a few bits. The one problem I find with Tesco is their meats. I think they're awful and my favourite butcher closed down last year and I'm finding it hard to find a replacement. When in Tesco's, if there's offers on, and it's stuff we normally eat, I buy in bulk. This week Uncle Bens boil in the bag, McDonnells Supernoodles, Domestos Bleach, and loads of other things we normally eat (apart from the bleach!) were buy one get one free so I stocked up. It's not like these things are going to go off. I do think though, once in a while it's worth going through the food press (mine is quite large!) and taking stock because I do find that I tend to buy the same thing over and over and end up with a glut of stuff! I do buy labelled brands but that's just coz I'm fussy. I think if you have time on your hands, split the shop between Aldi and Tesco and you won't go wrong. Just steer clear of the clothes and household stuff and you'll be fine!

Trampas

avg €50 a week for 2 people

This week was €30 which included washing powder and colour catchers.

The majority in lidl and then a few extra things in supervalu.

That would get all dinners for the week and lunches for work for the 2 of us.

Might buy a 2litre bottle of soda pop every 2nd week. Might get a bar of choc or packet a crips (not multi packs) but that would be the only junk food.

Sofiztikated

Wow, theres some people spending an awful lot of money!

Meself and herself would head up to Asda maybe every 2 months, and do a bit shop, and spend the bones of €200. That includes toiletries, food, junk, the odd DVD, whatever. I won't buy meat in Asda, apart from the chickens, simply because I don't like the cuts that they sell.

And then topped up by buying perishables locally, Supervalu, Tesco (if I have to) and Dunnes (if there is something in particular I need, I despise the shop)

Maybe spend €40 a week there. Every now and again, I go to a meat factory shop and stock up on breasts of chicken, box of 25 for €27, and whatever meat happens to be on sale at the time. Usually spend around €50 there, and could last a few months.

thecons

...stock up on breasts of chicken, box of 25 for €27, and whatever meat happens to be on sale at the time. Usually spend around €50 there, and could last a few months.

Just wondering where you're buying your meat?

rubadub

thecons wrote: »

Just wondering where you're buying your meat?

Plenty of butchers will do 10 fillets for €10, one near me, at sallynoggin church, has irish farmed ones, average 130g each (which is normal medium), so ~1.3kg for €10. The only problem is they are all for me, so you have to eat them all in time, unless you freeze them which I do not like doing. You can cook & freeze them though which I prefer.

In the fitness forum people lift weights so eat lots of chicken, many get 10 for 10. Check these hits.

http://www.google.ie/#hl=en&source=hp&q=%2210+chicken%22+site%3Aboards.ie&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=%2210+chicken%22+site%3Aboards.ie&fp=b536431ca3bf3273

Sofiztikated

thecons wrote: »

...stock up on breasts of chicken, box of 25 for €27, and whatever meat happens to be on sale at the time. Usually spend around €50 there, and could last a few months.

Just wondering where you're buying your meat?

Off the top of my head, I can't remember the weight of the box, but I know the ones I get are larger than the average you get from Tesco/Dunnes, wherever.

I happen to get mine in Shealin Meats, outside Kilnaleck, in Cavan. Will be trying a new place outside Derrylin, Fermanagh shortly, not sure on the name.

Agent_99

Sock Monster wrote: »

I agree, the "Make Your Own Gatorade and Save" was completely lost on me as I have some how survived many years without it !

Think of all the money you saved by not having to make your own

Seriously I spend 100/120 pw 2 adults 2 kids inc cleaning and toiletries, extra 30.00 per mth in the chemist for blades, toothpaste etc